Set up a rain barrel to catch rainwater from the gutters of your home or apartment to use for watering plants, flowers, gardens, and washing cars. Try an inexpensive food-grade drum (which you could get from a drum and barrel supplier for around $10). Make sure your container doesn't let in light, though, because clear barrels can speed the growth of algae in the water.

Sustainable landscaping can be more important than you may realize. Anything that washes off your driveway or street (like lawn fertilizer, eroded soil, pet waste, and leaves) runs directly into storm drains and then into our streams, ponds, and lakes. Consider sweeping your grass clippings, leaves, and fertilizer away from driveways and streets to prevent this type of runoff.

If done properly, washing dishes by hand tends to be more energy-efficient than using a dishwasher, especially for small volumes of dishes. Instead of washing under a running faucet, put a plug in the sink, or use a large, plastic bowl. And to minimize the amount of water used when rinsing, install a low-flow aerator on your kitchen sink faucets. When washing dishes by hand, minimize the number of times you need to change the water by washing the least-dirty items first.

Leave a bucket in the shower to fill with "gray water," (water that runs when you are lathering up). You can use this water to wash your car or water your plants (except for plants you intend to eat!).